Early Childhood & Youth Development - Certificate - Dakota County Technical College | DCTC - a 2-Year Minnesota School Offering Associate Degree, Certificate and Diploma Programs to the Twin Cities, MN

Early Childhood & Youth Development - Certificate

This program prepares individuals for work in a child care center or preschool as an assistant teacher or in a family child care program. This program is available in the classroom on-campus and also online.

Additional Certificate Requirements

The following award requires a clear MN Criminal Background Study.
Students must earn a grade of 'C-' or better for all required ECYD courses and ECYD technical electives.

This is a suggested sample course sequence.
Please contact your program advisor regarding your academic plans.

Get the Early Childhood & Youth Development Datasheet

2023-2024 Required Courses

First Year - Fall Semester

Course Title	Credits
ECYD 1110 Introduction to Early Childhood Education ECYD - 1110: Introduction to Early Childhood Education Description ECYD 1110 This course provides an overview of the early childhood profession, including theories, philosophies, research, principles, and regulations impacting work with young children and their families. This course examines the differing roles within the profession and the many influences on work with children and families. Note: This course requires a MN OHS criminal background study including fingerprints. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: None Course Outline: ECYD1110 — PDF	3
ECYD 1215 Child Growth and Development ECYD - 1215: Child Growth and Development Description ECYD 1215 This course examines the major developmental milestones across cultures, both typical and atypical, for children from conception through age eight in the areas of physical, social, emotional, language, cognitive and aesthetic/creative development. While studying developmental theory, investigative/observational research methods and developmentally appropriate practices, students will observe children and analyze characteristics of development at various stages. The course emphasizes interactions between maturational processes and environmental factors.To complete assignments in this class, students are required to spend approximately 10 hours per semester outside of class time observing young children in community-based early childhood programs. Note: This course requires a Minnesota Criminal Background Study including fingerprints. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2024 Course Outline: ECYD1215 — PDF	3
ECYD 1225 Health, Wellness, and Nutrition ECYD - 1225: Health, Wellness, and Nutrition Description ECYD 1225 This course provides an introduction to the skills needed to establish and maintain a physically and psychologically safe and healthy learning environment for young children. Topics include preventing illness and accidents, handling emergencies, providing health, safety, and nutrition educational experiences, meeting children's basic nutritional needs, child abuse prevention, safe sleep practices, and current health-related issues. The importance of collaboration with families and allied health professionals is addressed. To complete assignments in this class, students are required to spend approximately 10 hours per semester outside of class time observing and interacting with young children in community-based early childhood programs. NOTE: This course requires a MN OHS criminal background study including fingerprints. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: None Course Outline: ECYD1225 — PDF	3
Total Semester Credits:	9

First Year - Spring Semester

Course Title	Credits
ECYD 1235 Guiding Young Children ECYD - 1235: Guiding Young Children Description ECYD 1235 This course examines the positive, developmentally appropriate strategies used to guide children's behavior and support social and emotional development during early childhood. The course examines the multiple influences on child behavior as well as strategies to support self-regulation and peer relationships during early childhood. To complete assignments in this class, students are required to spend approximately 10 hours per semester outside of class time observing and interacting with young children in community-based early childhood programs. NOTE: This course requires a MN OHS criminal background study including fingerprints. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2024 Course Outline: ECYD1235 — PDF	3
ECYD 1250 Learning and Creativity in Early Childhood ECYD - 1250: Learning and Creativity in Early Childhood Description ECYD 1250 This course examines the role of adults in providing environments, interactions, and activities that support learning and creativity in the early childhood years. The nature and importance of play as a vehicle for child learning is addressed as well as implementation of developmentally and culturally appropriate practices. The importance of child choice and active exploration as strategies to meet appropriate goals for learning and development are stressed. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2024 Course Outline: ECYD1250 — PDF	3
ECYD 1570 Child and Family Relations in a Diverse World ECYD - 1570: Child and Family Relations in a Diverse World Description ECYD 1570 This course examines the impact of family, culture and society on young children. Students will consider strategies for emphasizing culturally and linguistically appropriate and anti-bias approaches while supporting children's care and education. Students will examine the many types of families, as well as the importance of forging effective partnerships with families and community organizations and resources. To complete assignments in this class, students are required to spend approximately 10 hours per semester outside of class time observing and interacting with young children in community-based early childhood programs. Note: This course requires a clear Minnesota Criminal Background Study including fingerprints. Credits: 3 Prerequisites: None Corequisites: None Future Offering: Spring 2024 Course Outline: ECYD1570 — PDF	3
Total Semester Credits:	9

Total Credits:	18

** Students must earn a grade of 'C-' or better for all required ECYD courses.

Early Childhood & Youth Development - Certificate

Additional Certificate Requirements

2023-2024 Required Courses

First Year - Fall Semester

First Year - Spring Semester

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STUDENT LINKS

LOCATION

Rosemount Campus